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Student Loans and Credit Cards

Is It Possible To Manage Both Credit Card & Student Loan Debt?

Going off to college comes with new found financial freedoms, and for many students that means their first foray into a world of credit and debt.

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 restricted students under the age of 21 to open a card without a co-signer and direct promotional card offers on college campuses. This helped reduce the number of cards issued to students, but unfortunately only made a small dent in decreasing debt for those graduating.

According to an Experian College Graduate Survey conducted in April 2016, 58 percent of soon-to-be-graduates said they had a credit card, while 30 percent said they had credit card debt with an average balance of $2,573. Another survey found 63 percent made purchases without having funds to pay the bill.

It’s no secret that average student loan debt has been steadily growing. In 1993-94, about half of bachelor’s degree recipients graduated with debt averaging more than $10,000. Two-thirds of the Class of 2017 graduated with debt and the average student loan debt was at $35,000 after graduation. This number more than tripled in two decades.

We wouldn’t be overreaching to say there is a correlation between higher student loan and credit card debt. As a new grad, you’re facing some tough financial decisions as you begin life in the real world. For instance, which debt do you pay off first?

Credit card interest rates are typically higher than student loan interest rates, which means this debt is more expensive. For example, a $10,000 student loan at a 6.8 percent APR paid over 20 years would cost $8,321 in interest. A $10,000 credit card balance at 17 percent APR paid over 20 years would cost $25,230 in interest, and that’s assuming both interest rates remain fixed over that payment period. The long-term interest cost goes up if the interest rate increases.

In the end, both student loans and credit cards can keep you in debt for many, many years and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by them if you’re only making minimum payments. What it comes down to is making the proper decisions to meet your financial goals. Making the a few smart decisions when your in 20’s could set you up financial success instead of struggling with debt for years.

This is where The Debt Doctors can play an important role in helping you decide what is the best financial plan for you to manage your debt. To receive the guidance you need for a brighter financial future, you can schedule a free consultation today.